To restore your Mac in recovery mode, follow these steps:
1. Start by clicking on the Apple logo located at the top left corner of your screen.
2. From the drop-down menu, select the “Restart” option. This will initiate the reboot process.
3. As soon as you see the screen turn black and the computer begins to restart, hold down the “Command” (⌘) and “R” keys simultaneously. It’s important to hold these keys until you see either an Apple logo or a spinning globe on your screen.
– If you see the Apple logo, it means your Mac is starting up from the built-in recovery system.
– If you see a spinning globe, it indicates that your Mac is attempting to start macOS Recovery via the internet because it couldn’t start from the built-in recovery system.
4. Once you’ve successfully entered recovery mode, you’ll be presented with the macOS Utilities window. Here, you have several options to restore your Mac, depending on your specific needs:
A. Restore From Time Machine Backup: If you have previously created a backup using Time Machine, you can select this option to restore your Mac from a specific backup point. This is useful when you want to revert your Mac to a previous state or recover lost files.
B. Reinstall macOS: This option allows you to reinstall the operating system on your Mac while preserving your user data. It essentially reinstalls a clean version of macOS, which can help resolve software issues or errors.
C. Disk Utility: Disk Utility is a powerful tool available in recovery mode that allows you to manage and repair your Mac’s hard drive. You can use it to format, partition, or repair disks before reinstalling macOS or restoring from a backup.
D. Safari: In some versions of macOS Recovery, you’ll find a Safari option that lets you browse the web. This can be helpful if you need to access online resources for troubleshooting or seeking support.
5. Choose the appropriate option based on your requirements. If you’re unsure, you can consult Apple’s official support documentation or seek assistance from an Apple Genius at an Apple Store.
It’s worth noting that recovery mode provides a range of troubleshooting and maintenance options beyond restoring your Mac. It can be a valuable tool for resolving various software issues, repairing disks, or reinstalling the operating system when necessary.
Personal experience: I’ve used recovery mode on my Mac multiple times to troubleshoot software issues and perform clean installations of macOS. In one instance, my Mac was experiencing frequent crashes, so I decided to reinstall macOS from recovery mode. This resolved the issue and improved the overall stability of my system. Additionally, I’ve used Disk Utility within recovery mode to repair disk errors and recover data from a failing hard drive. Recovery mode has been an essential tool in maintaining the functionality of my Mac.